Shloka 68
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
रूपसत्त्वसमायुक्ता सर्वे: समुदिता गुणै: । सा तु सत्यवती नाम मत्स्यघात्यभिसंश्रयात्
rūpa-sattva-samāyuktā sarvaiḥ samuditā guṇaiḥ | sā tu satyavatī nāma matsya-ghāty-abhisaṃśrayāt ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Dikurniai kecantikan dan kebajikan batin, serta diperkaya dengan segala sifat mulia, dia dikenali sebagai Satyavatī. Namun kerana hidup di bawah naungan kaum nelayan, dia juga disebut Matsyagandhā. Demi berkhidmat kepada ayahnya, dia menyeberangkan perahu di perairan Yamunā. Pada suatu ketika, ketika resi Parāśara mengembara dalam ziarah, dia terlihat gadis itu—bersinar dengan kecantikan luar biasa, sehingga makhluk yang telah sempurna pun berhasrat untuk memilikinya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts inner worth with social circumstance: Satyavatī is defined by truth and virtues, yet society also labels her by her environment (fisherfolk, fish-smell). It highlights how ethical character (sattva, guṇa) can coexist with—and ultimately transcend—external reputation and birth-association.
Vaiśaṃpāyana introduces Satyavatī: virtuous and beautiful, known as Satyavatī but also called Matsyagandhā due to her life among fisherfolk. She ferries boats on the Yamunā to serve her father. During his pilgrimage, the sage Parāśara sees her, setting up the next major episode in the lineage narrative.